Ultra-Miniature Audio Amplifier Can Make a Great Stocking Stuffer

The Fireye Mini ultra-miniature headphone amplifier from Firestone Audio is designed for use with portable equipment and for a cost of under $40.00, it can make a great stocking stuffer. Boost up volume and dynamics by put a Fireye Mini in between the headphone and media player. The Fireye Mini is small and is an ideal travel partner. The built-in lithium battery provides up to 24 hour playback time and it recharges via a computer USB port. The Fireye Mini will give the extra power to hear music with the dynamics that are missing now, also with a larger and harder-to-drive headphone.

The Fireye Mini measures 1.5 inches by 1 inch by 0.5 inch, and the soft-rubber-shelled amp weighs only 14 grams, so it can hang from off your iPod, iPad, iPhone or any device with a 3.5mm headphone output. Plugging in a headphone turns the Mini on and lights a bright blue LED, unplugging turns the amp off. Charge the Mini via the USB connection and it'll play for up to 24 hours. It's available in green, gray, purple, red, and white.

According to a review by Steve Gutenberg on CNET.com, "The Mini is no giant-killer, but it definitely bumped up the detail and resolution of my Monster Turbine Copper, Ultimate Ears UE-4, and vPulse in-ear headphones. The Mini made each one sound like a better pair of headphones. Radiohead's "Amnesiac" had a more expansive soundstage, bass definition firmed up, and treble sparkle improved compared with what I get straight out of my iPod Classic. The amp's definitely worth $39, so if you've already invested in a nice set of headphones, why not see how good they can sound? Once I got used to having the Mini on my iPod the sound was drab without it. One caveat: your headphones' mic and phone controls won't work when plugged into the Mini; you can still hear the tunes, but that's all."